Combination-switch.



A. J. DONNELLN. COMBINATION SWITCH. APPucATlon m50 Auml?. |915.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

l rid/fill 5. j Z Z0' ZVEI Witnesses: j g5 JWM w LoN, a citizen `of the UNTED STATES ANDREW J. DONNELLON,

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

COMBINATION-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application tiled August 17, 1915.

To HU `ir/iom z'lf may concern lle it known that l, Axiiuivv J. DoNNizL- United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in,the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anrluseful Improvements in (foinliination-Switches, of which the followv ing is ai specifiiaition,

My invention relates` to locks and switches, and its object is to provide a. combination switch for controlling the application of electric current, especially in ignition de- \'ices, \vhich will be simple. in construction and operation;- which will not afi'ord a clue to 1ts combination thiough,the sense otv touch ;4 and which may have its combination changed readily.

of parts and My invention consists in the combination in -the details of construction yand inriingement of parts as will herein be in'ore fully described and claimed.

In 'the drawing: Figure 1 is afront elevatioitof a deviceembodying my invention;

r j l `ig.`1; llig.`3 is a tion on. a) plane of Fig. 2; Fig. 1' is a rear view of the `11`ig..2 is averticallongitudinal section on a4 plane ,corresponding toi the line -2 of vertical transverse seccorresponding to the line a detail plan View of the is a detail f ront elevation device; Fig. 5 is brush; and Fig. 6

' the sainc.-

miA

I j'on its ofro its part near its fige e @As I prefer lto ciinstriict my invention, s'iown infthe drawing, the face of .thas a central opening 2, and

foiirrearwardly prostuds' .3; which hare their` rear ends andzrec'eivea support an insuydisili'ft' between 5 screwed onto the studs'.

'dial plate Land-has a knob or handle t end part,` which may be A radially inward throiigh one side .of `the knoblagainstthe shaft. This knob extends plat-e1, and, as seen in Fig. 1, may have suitable indicating point or mark 9'cut in rear edgeVwhich part is rably beveled all around so that such apoiiit or niark may come `very close to the front side ofthe plate 1'; 'andthis plate 1 may have a series of points or marks 10 around the knob 7,' to actin conjunction with :disk 4,:1 cbnducting strip 17 with `the strip 17 to' the opening 2 ofthe terminal post 18 will ver?7 Yclose to -the front side of the face or rammed oet. 24., 1916.

Serial No. 45,999.

the inarkl to indicate the angular position of the knob 7 and the shaft U to which it is secured. It will be understood, however, that the rear edge of the knob may be provided with the .plurality of. niarks and a single inark'provided on the face plate for the saine purpose. It' the set screw 8 is loosened, the knob 7 may be turned on the shaft 6 to a different angular relation thereto, and then lixed in this new relation.

lie shaft 6, having its bearing in the opening 2, extends back through an opening or bearing 11 in the insulating disk 4 and has a contact disk 12 fixed on 1t, preferably integral therewith as fshown, immediately forwardof the front side`of the insulating disk 4. To the rear of the insulating disk -1 is another Contact i shaft G, and held up against the rear side .of the insulating disk 4 by a helical spring 14 between the contact disk 13 and the washer 15 around' the shaft 6 to the rear, which washer isheld against sliding backward on the shaft-by an engaging arm' 16tha't is fixed in the shaftzi and i therefrom at one side.- that the helical-'spring Y14 holds' the loose rear Contact disk forward against the insulating disk 4, and, by the' shaft V6 and th'forward contact with said -forward contact disk` 12 closely against the front side of the insulating disk 4. As here shown, however, the loose contact disk 13,` has, interposed bereaction, hold's back disk 12, bearing disk 13, loose on the4 tween `it andthe rear sideof the :insulating ing in one end part embracing the sha 6, radially outward' and., having and extending lan opening in itslotherend part, through post .118, fastening which 4extends a' terminal insulating disk 4. Thus,

a conductbrl'electrieall connected towthis lie in electrical connection with the rear-'loose Contact disk' 13. It will befunderstood, h` Wever, that electrical connectionn'iay 'made with this conaid bear" on scribed. y'

their partswnear 'thelrypenp eries insulating segments'-19` and` 20.respectively, which makeup parts of the respective peripheries.

so :extendsradially 'Thus, it willbe seen of the contact disks. eriesof the contaizt site sides of the disk .twith curved terminal parts 26 bearing upon the peripheries of the in the object an 'inclosed j. en ages wit dei along with'the the other contact disk 12,-

shaft 6, also be turned in this direction disk 13 is to turn the respective contact disks 12 and 13. It will be understood that this brush 23 may be made of sheet inetal and its brush arms 25 will be somewhat resilient, so as always to have close hearing against said peripheries.

It will also he seen that if either contact disk' 12 or 13 has the art of its periphery iiiade up of the insulating part 19 lor 20 brought against the terminal part of the respective brush arm, there will be no direct electrical connection between 'that disk and the brush.

Fixed in the rear loose contact disk 13 is 'an engaging pin 27 that it will be engaged by the' engaging arm '16 ofthe shaft 6, if this arm' is swung around by turning the shaft.

' Constructedasabove described, the lock switehmay be mounted on any object by fastenin the face or dial plate 1' to the object, pre erably with the structure or mechanLism to the rear of the'plate 1A extending depression made therein so as to Abe inaccessible; leaving as the only accessible means for operation of the device the knob or handle 7.` Then it will be seen `that the only way to'turn the rear loose contact knob 7 and shaftwith arm 16 around until this arm the engaging lpin 27 on the on, conti-num to turn in e..disk`- 13 wil be turned knob Tand shaft' 6. But being fixed on the into a suitable ening or its engagin 13 whereu that' direction, t

all' of4 the time that the 'arm 16 isheing brought to the pin 27, and while the disk 12 is being turned atten. the engagement of the arm and pin. Since neither one of these disks can be seen .by one turningthe knob i,"

it will not be possibleby senseof sight to detti-mine when the insulating part `of the periphery ofeach disk is brought in con-l tact with the respective .brush ;tenninal part;

' the diifereiice 1n ,the 4brush-arm terminal parts a andl.the conducting and nonconducting parts of the -peripheries being practically continuous and smooth,`no indicatlon'cap be had. by the of feeling or touch; because w friction `of the gainst the in sulating and conducting parts is imperceptible, even though the pressure is comparaextendng backward, so

-ing and unlockin'gafter settin 'of its arms' 25 with the `will keep the circuit closed ressure of' tively great.

would-be operator must know where to stop;J

turnin tact dishk 13 into the proper position after' the engagement of the arm 16 with thc pin 27 andthen4 must know where to stop turning the knob in the opposite direction in order to correctly position the forward contact disk 12.

It will be seen that, b fixing the knob 7, with its indicating mar or marks, on the shaft 6, through the medium of the set screw 8, at any desired relation to the shaft 6, and consequently to thedisks 12 and 13; and then remembering at what points, as' indicated bythe indicatinmarks, both the insulating parts 19 and f2 were in contact with their respective brush-arm terminal arts 26, the person so settn and reinem ering will be able to correcty 4operate the switch to the exclusion of all not having thisA information. l i

It will be seen that this ple in construction, in the operation of set ting, and in the repeated operations of l ock- ;V while, at the same time, a very large n r of binations may be effected.V Thus, the device ma he'made to correctlyset'each one of the d is s at any o'ne of the number of permissible 'combinations would" be ekqsual to the squarev ofthe numberfofj mar AS will be understood hem al abate de.'

is a specialterminal post connected directly to one of the disks as' is formed through the'.operatingl the-device. Thus,'it will be seen it sential insulation is between the and its terminal posten theoneglia' l all of the' resti of theidevice ont hand; and that` sinceall ofthe device'- is e ectrically. continuous, cal connection of the brush 23 ait' @one shown, or this terminal pai ts: of he es# other: armis in sucheleetrical'conne tion or not: vHence, the necessit 'of hriniing When used tion device, as upon the internal-combustion', motor of a motor vehicle, my device will connected through its. twoterininala in par# allel with the motori iton device, the ignition.` device and the commutatin the knob in bring'ng the rear con'- marksO, so that the;

ies

current at all times excpt when;

in connection with sa @mf-1 2# means. Thus, unless both brush arms are insulated from the rest of the device, any actuation of the commutating means, as by cranking the motor, will result in current impulses, but these will be only through the short circuit between my device and the source of current. Thus, the ignition device will be inoperative until both disks in my device are brought to the correct position to insulate theniV from both brush arms; thereby breaking the short circuit formed by my device and allowing the full current to flow through the ignition device.

I deem this system of connections better than an -arrangement of parts which would depend upon a correct positioning of them to complete a circuit from the source of current through the ignition device, and at all other times preventing anv fiow of current in any part of the system; because it'is more difficult to circumvent the device when it is necessary to cut out the device and then bridge over the cut, as with my invention as hereinbefore described, than it is to `mercly bridge over the device, as is possible with the alternative arrangement above alluded to. However, it will be understood that my device is susceptible to modification in the above respects as well as in other minor particulars, and therefore, although I have specifically shown and described a preferred construction rand arrangement as an example of my invention, I do not wish to beA understood as being limited4 precisely thereto; but

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters -Patent is:

1. In a combination switch, a shaft, supporting means for said shaft, acontact disk fixed on said shaft and another' contact disk loose on said shaft, the periphery of each one of said disks being made up of an electrically conducting part and an insulating iart, fixed electrical contact means contacting respectively with the peripheries of butA otherwise insulated from said disks, a helical spring around said shaft, a radial arm on said shaft holding said spring against said loose disk, thereby holding this loose disk toward the other contact disk, means projecting from said loose disk to be ened by said radial arm after a limitedV a igoition of the shaft in either direction, and means for indicating angular positions of said shaft.

2. In a combination switch, a shaft, supporting means for said shaft, a cntact disk fixed 4on the shaft and .another contact disk loose on'said shaft, the periphery of each one of said disks being made up of an electrically conducting part and an insulating part, xed electrical 'contact means contacting respectivel with the peripheries of but otherwise insu ated from said contact disks,

a helical spring around the rear art of said shaft, a radial arm on said sha t holding said spring against said loose disk, thereby holding this loose Adisk forward and holding said shaft and the other disk back, means projecting back from said loose disk to be engaged by said radial arm after a limited rotation of the shaft in either direction, a dial plate fixed in front of the contact disk that is fixed on the shaft,` and having said shaft extending through it, a knob held on said shaft in front of the dial plate, and means on said knob and means on said dial plate for indicating relative positions of the knob and dial plate.

3. In a combination switch, an insulating disk, a` shaft extending through and bearing in said insulating disk, contact disks on said shaft on opposite sides of 'said insulating disk, one of said contact disks bein fixed on the shaft and the other contact dis c being loose on saidshaft, the periphery Vof each one of said contact disks being made up of an electrically conducting major part and an insulating minor part, means to make electrical connection with both of said contact disks through said shaft, a brush fixed on said insulatln disk, comprising arms flanking said insu ating disk and contacting respectively with the peripheries of said contact disks but otherwise insulated from said contact disks by said insulating disk, means whereby rotation of said loose disk is ,caused after a limited rotation of the shaft in either direction, and means on said dial plate for indicating angular positions of said shaft. Q

4. In a combination switch, an insulating disk` a shaft extending through and bearing in said insulating disk, contact disks on said shaft on opposite sides of said insulating disk, one of said contact disks being fixed on the shaft and the other contactdisk being loose on said shaft, the periphery of each one of said contact disks being made up of an electrically conducting major part and an insulating minor part, means to make electrical connection with both of said contact disks through said shaft, a brush fixed on` said insulating disk comprising arms flanking said insulating dislt'rand contacting respectively with the 4periphe .tact disks but otherwise' insulated from said contact disks, by said insulating disk, means whereby rotation of said loose disk is caused affer a limited rotation of the shaft-in either di `ection, a dial plate fixed to said insulating disk in front of said contact disks and having said shaft extending through it, a

. knob on said shaft in fro'nt of the dial plate,

and means on said knob and means on said dial plate for indicating relative positionsl of the knob and dial plate, and means acies of said con- 5. In a combination switch, an insulating disk, a shaft extending through and bearing in said insulating disk, Contact disks on said shaft on opposite sides of said insulating disk, one of said contact disks being!l fixed to the shaft and the other contact disk being loose on said shaft, the periphery of each one of said contact disks being` made up of an electrically conducting part and an insulate ing part, electrical contact means fixed on said insulating disk `and contacting respectively with the l'ieripherics of but otherwise insulated from said contact disks by said insulating disk, a helical spring, around said shaft, a radial arm on said shaft holding said spring against said loose disk, thereby holding this loose disk toward the respective side of the insulating disk and holding said shaft and the other contact disk toward the other side of the insulating disk, means pro Ajecting from said loose disk to be engaged by said radial aim after a limited rotation of the shaft in eitherdirection, and means lfor indicating angular positions of said shaft.

6. ln a combination switch, an insulating disk, a shaft extending through and bearing in said insulating disk, contact disks on said shaft on opposite sides of said insulating disk, one of said contact disks being fixed on the shaft and the other contact disk beingr loose on said shaft, the periphery of each one of said contact disks being made up of an electrically conducting iuajoi part and an insulating,r minor part, means to make elec trical connection with both of said Contact disks through said shaft, a brush fixed on said insulating disk, comprising;` arius flanking said insulating disk and contacting respectively with the peripheries of said contact disks but otherwise insulated from said contact disks by said insulating disk, a

fixed on said shaft,

helical sprin arm on sai( against said loose disk, thereby holding this loose disk toward the respective side of the insulatingr disk and holding said shaft and the other contact disk toward the other side of the insulating from said loose disk to be engaged by sai radial arni after a limited rotation of the shaft in either direction, and means for indicating angular positions of said shaft.

7. A combination circuit breaker compris ing a casing, an insulating plate mounted therein and provided with an electrical circuit terminal exposed on each side of said` plate, tuinblers each in electrical contact with said terminal at all except one point of' adjustment, a handle to positively rotate one tumbler, and means whereby, on rotation of the handle, the other tumbler may be ad justed to sever electrical contact with said terminal.

8. In a combination switch, a shaft, supporting means for`said shaft, a contact disk and another contact disk loose on said shaft, the periphery of each of around said shaft, a radial said disks being cut away to form a circuit interrupting part, fixed electrical contact means contacting with but otherwise insulated from said disks, a helical spring around said shaft, a radial arm on said shaft holding said spring -against said loose disk, thereby holdin this loose disk toward the other contact isk, means projecting from said loose disk to be engaged by said radial arm after a limited rotation of the shaft in either direction, and means the position of said shaft.

ANDREW J. DONNELLON. Vllitnesses:

EDWARD J. KENNEDY,. ROBERT M. Sco'i'r.

shaft holding said spring disk, means projecting y for' indicating 

